FAQs#

General#

What data does Zip Data II use?#

ZIP*Data2 is divided amongst 2 tables and uses American Community Survey (ACS) 2022 data, which is updated once a year, whereas Census is updated every 10 years.

What Data does Zip Data Classic use?#

  • The legacy Zip Data Classic product uses Census 2000 data with the exception of the “CNTY.dat” file.

  • EXCEPTION: Zip Data Classic - CNTY.dat file.

Why was ZIP*Data Classic deprecated?#

  • The legacy version of ZIP*Data (Classic) will be deprecated because it is divided amongst 10 tables that must be joined together and contains 2000 Census Data for Historical purposes.

  • ZIP*Data2 is divided amongst 2 tables and uses American Community Survey (ACS) 2022 data, which is updated once a year, whereas Census is updated every 10 years.

  • ZIP*Data Classic was deprecated on October 22, 2022.

What are the differences between ZIP*Data Classic and ZIP*Data 2?#

  • ZIP*Data 2 is divided amongst 2 tables and uses ACS 2022 data, whereas ZIP*Data Classic is divided amongst 10 tables and contains 2000 Census data for Historical purposes. ACS Data is updated once a year, whereas Census data is updated every 10 years.

  • ZIP*Data 2 uses Comma-Separated (.csv) files, which can be opened natively in Excel and easily imported into relational databases such as SQL Server and MySQL. ZIP*Data Classic uses dBase and Fix-length files.

  • ZIP*Data 2 does not contain Urban, Suburban, Farm or Nonfarm Geographic area found in the Census.DBF of ZIP*Data Classic.

  • ZIP*Data 2 uses the CBSA file to replace the MSA file that was deprecated by the Census over 10 years ago.

  • ZIP*Data 2 uses updated Latitude and Longitude coordinates so that users do not have to alter them in order to get valid coordinates.

  • ZIP*Data 2 does not contain County Seat information because there is no new Data Source for County Seat that is found in the CNTY.DBF of ZIP*Data Classic.

  • ZIP*Data 2 bases Home Value on Median Sales Price instead of Average Sales Price in ZIP*Data Classic.

Specific#

How do you install ZIP*Data Classic through ZIP*Data II file? I see the Legacy folder, but no setup?#

  • There is no setup.exe for the Zip Data Classic files in the legacy folder of ZIP data II download.

  • However, the .dat and .dbf files install to the following directory: <C:\Program Files (x86)\Melissa DATA\ZIPData>

  • Copy the contents of the Legacy folder and paste (and replace) the ones in the above directory.

How do I import the Zip Data Classic legacy files from ZipData II into Access?#

  • The “legacy” folder only contains the .DAT & .DBF files. The .SQL and .mdb files were left out to save space because legacy customers should already have them in place.

  • I was able to import the .dbf files into Access using the following steps:

Steps:

  1. Open Microsoft Access

  2. Create a new Blank Database

  3. Click External Data tab

  4. Click New Data Source -> From Database -> dBASE file

  5. Select Import the Source data into a new table in the current database and then the FIle Name path for each ZD2_202210\zipdata\legacy *.DBF files and click OK.

  6. Click save import steps if desired